Cinco de Mayo
Cinco De Mayo is not just a holiday that involves drinking beer with limón and munch on tortilla chips. It's a celebration of the Battle of Puebla fought against the French, that occurred on May 5, 1862. It's sometimes confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is in September. The Battle of Puebla was fought during the young years of the American CIvil War, and is celebrated here in America as a commemoration of democracy and justice.
Mexico defaulted on loans from three major superpowers: Spain, Great Britain, and France. At this point in time, France (ruled by Napoleon III) decided to use this opportunity to set up a Latin empire. So they invaded Mexico, and the empire existed for a whopping three years.
It was a huge boost to Mexican morale because the French had double the troops, at 8,000 to 4,000, and the French army had not been defeated in 50 years, as the reigns of Napoleon continued.
Mexico won the battle, but French continued to win the war. It wasn't until the American Civil War was over in 1865 that the Americans came into help defeat the French, ending the war. French-imposed Emperor Maximillian I was executed by the Mexicans.
In America, it's celebrated more in California, and other border states than the rest of the country; though in Mexico it is celebrated mostly in the state of Puebla where the battle happened. It is also celebrated around the world in places like Australia, the Caribbean, and Malta.
Written by Jessica Shakarian
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